Transcriptomics analysis of primary mouse thymocytes exposed to bis(tri-n-butyltin)dioxide (TBTO)

The biocide bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) causes thymus atrophy in rodents and is toxic to many cell types of which thymocytes are the most sensitive. To obtain insight in the mechanisms of action of TBTO, we exposed primary mouse thymocytes in vitro for 3, 6 and 11 h to 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 M TBTO. Subsequently, the cells were subjected to whole-genome gene expression profiling. Biological interpretation of the gene expression data revealed that TBTO affects a wide range of processes. Cell proliferation related genes were downregulated by all treatments except for 3 and 6 h 0.5 M TBTO which upregulated these genes. Treatment with TBTO resulted in upregulation of genes involved in endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) stress, NFkB and TNF pathways, and genes involved in DNA damage, p53 signaling and apoptosis. Remarkably, TBTO also increased the expression of genes that are known to be upregulated during T cell activation or during negative selection of thymocytes. The effect of TBTO on expression of genes involved in ER stress and apoptosis was confirmed by qPCR. Induction of the T cell activation response was corroborated by demonstrating that TBTO exposure resulted in translocation of NFAT to the nucleus, which is an essential event for T cell activation

Neonatal diarrhoea in pigs: alpha- and beta(2)-toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens

Since 2001 the Pig Health Unit of Utrecht University has been consulted by various pig farms regarding neonatal diarrhoea. When preventive measures against E. coli-induced diarrhoea had no or limited results, the diarrhoeic piglets were investigated further. The microbiological and pathological findings were indicative of infection with Clostridium perfringens. Toxin typing by polymerase chain reaction led to the detection of genes encoding a-toxin (cpa) and beta2-toxin (cpb2). Surprisingly, alpha- and beta2-toxin-producing C. perfringens was isolated from all tested herds with piglets with neonatal diarrhoea. From our observations, it is likely that many herds in the Netherlands are infected with beta2-toxin-producing C. perfringens strains. As present vaccines lack beta2-toxoid and thus do not provide piglets with protection against beta2-induced diarrhoea

Measuring intestinal blood flow in group-housed weaner pigs using Physiogear TM I: A pilot study

The objective of this study was to determine whether intestinal blood flow can be measured adequately in group-housed animals using the recently developed Physiogear (TM) I wireless flowmeter. We used the weaner pig as one of many possible animal models. Four 7-kg piglets were instrumented with a 3-mm flowprobe around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and SMA flow was measured pre- and post-weaning. During measurements, behavior was recorded. The piglets did not show any abnormal behavior and were not restrained by the flowmeter. Severe reductions (> 75%) in SMA flow coincided with nursing (pre-weaning) and aggressive behavior (post-weaning) and were only short-lived. Our results demonstrate that the Physiogear (TM) I flowmeter can be used to measure flow in group-housed animals without any human contact, providing the opportunity to relate flow measurements to undisturbed animal behavior. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Measuring intestinal blood flow in group-housed weaner pigs using Physiogear TM I: A pilot study

The objective of this study was to determine whether intestinal blood flow can be measured adequately in group-housed animals using the recently developed Physiogear (TM) I wireless flowmeter. We used the weaner pig as one of many possible animal models. Four 7-kg piglets were instrumented with a 3-mm flowprobe around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and SMA flow was measured pre- and post-weaning. During measurements, behavior was recorded. The piglets did not show any abnormal behavior and were not restrained by the flowmeter. Severe reductions (> 75%) in SMA flow coincided with nursing (pre-weaning) and aggressive behavior (post-weaning) and were only short-lived. Our results demonstrate that the Physiogear (TM) I flowmeter can be used to measure flow in group-housed animals without any human contact, providing the opportunity to relate flow measurements to undisturbed animal behavior. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved